Contents:
- Medical Video: Muscle Injuries. Should you use hot or cold therapy? back pain, muscle strain / sprain
- Compress warm water to treat old swelling
- Compress cold water to treat the swelling that just happened
- Which is better for treating swelling?
Medical Video: Muscle Injuries. Should you use hot or cold therapy? back pain, muscle strain / sprain
The best way to treat swelling, whenever and however it happens, is to compress it to recover quickly and the pain is gone. But which one is better for relieving swelling: compress using warm water or cold water. Indeed, is there a difference?
Compress warm water to treat old swelling
Warm water compresses are usually used to relieve the pain of muscles or joints that have lasted long or chronic.
Warm temperatures can widen blood vessels so that blood flow and oxygen supply can more easily reach the affected body parts. This helps muscles relax and reduce pain. Warm temperatures will also reduce stiffness and increase the range of motion of painful parts of the body.
The temperature used to compress must be considered so as not to overheat. The recommended temperature for warm compresses is around 40-50 degrees C. Make it a habit not to compress more than 20 minutes, unless the doctor recommends that.
Although it can be used to reduce pain, it should be noted that warm water compresses are not recommended for use in new wounds or less than 48 hours because it will worsen wound conditions due to fluid buildup at the site of injury and increase pain.Warm compresses should also not be used on open wounds and wounds that still look swollen.
Compress cold water to treat the swelling that just happened
Cold water compresses are usually used 24 to 48 hours after the injury in order to minimize the occurrence of inflammation. This is because low temperatures can stimulate constriction of blood and slow blood flow at the site of injury. In the area of injury occurs the process of inflammation and damage to blood vessels which will cause blood cells to exit the blood vessels and cause the skin to turn bluish red.
Wrap the compress first with a towel so that the cold does not touch the skin directly. You should not put cold compresses for more than 20 minutes. Lift the compress after 20 minutes, and give pause for 10 minutes before then start compressing again.
Which is better for treating swelling?
Actually this depends on the swelling that is experienced. Cold water compresses are better used for bruising or swelling due to a recent impact.In swelling due to joint injuries or stiff joints that have lasted a long time, hot compresses are better. Also note the temperature of the compress so as not to overheat and it actually causes burns. Avoid using hot compresses on the skin that has been injured due to infection or other injuries.
In addition, it is better to use hot or cold compresses that are avoided in people who experience palpable nerve disorders (feeling numb and unable to distinguish heat or cold). In these people, they cannot feel whether the compress is too cold or too hot which can endanger the skin and surrounding structures.
